Method of making explosive projectiles.



L. N. D. MIXSELL.

METHOD OF MAKING EXPLOSIVE PROJECTILES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2. 1915.

Patented Nov. 30, I915.

. rr er rnr rare LEIGHTON N. D. MIXSELL, OF BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIG-NOR TO BETHLEHEM i STEEL COMPANY, OF-"SOUTH BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF rEnNsYLvANIA.

METHOD OF MAKING EXPLOSIVE FROJ'ECTILES.

1/ c all whom it may concern. .1

Be it known that I, LEIerrroN N. D. MIX- snLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bethlehem, county of Northampton, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Making Explosive Projectiles, of'wliich the following is a specification.

Explosive projectiles are usually provided with a cavity for the bursting charge which is generally cylindrical, though sometimes slightly vtapering, the forward end of the cavity being shaped to conform more or less to the contour of the point of the projectile and the rear end being narrowed to a neck which receives the base plug or fuse. On account of operating the boring tools through the comparatively narrow fuse opening in the base of the projectile it has been more or less difficult and somewhat expensive to bore out the cavity and troublesome to properly shape the 'forward end thereof. To obviate these diiiicultiesl have invented the following described method of making projectiles, particularly cast steel projectiles. l

l first cast a solid projectile blank having an annular outwardly extendingflange or boss at its base. As is well known, the impurities in the metal and any spongy formations due to gases occur at the middle of the casting and are removed in boring. I then bore out the cavity for the proposed charge, this opening extending through the base and centrally through the projectile to the point where the tapering end of the cavity begins. 'Through this opening a suit able tool may be inserted for shaping the inner end of the cavity. I then partially close the outer .or base end of the cavity by swaging or pressing inward the annular-enlargement, thus forming .a*neck to receive the fuse plug or other closure. This neck is finally threaded and shaped to receive the closure. i

My improved method is illustrated'in the accompanying drawing,.in which,

Figure '1 is a longitudinal section of a solid or blank projectile; Fig. 2 is a similarsection showing the blank after the boring is completed; Fig. 3 shows the projectile after the surplus metal on the base hasbeen pressed or swaged inwardly to form the Specification of-Letters Patent. Application filed March 2, 1915. Serial No. 11,503.

Patented Nov. 3%, 1915.

base of the projectile and produce a neck in the cavity to receive the plug; Fig. 4 shows a shell with its base threaded to receive the fuse or other closure.

In Fig. 1 Thave shown a solid blank which may be assumed to be a steel casting having the usual outline of a projectile comprising a curved point f0 and a cylindrical body ll and having at its base an annular enlargement 12 for a purpose to be presently described. A longitudinal bore 13 is first formed in the shell, as indicated in Fig. 2, the diameter of this bore being equal to the diameter of the required cavity for the bursting charge. This bore or cavity may be of uniform diameter from the base inward to a point 14 and from this point rounded or conical, as shown, or it may be of any other desired shape.

After boring the cavity the base of the projectile is heated sufficiently to soften the the projectile. -The projectile is finally threaded or tapped, as indicated at 16,. to receive a base plug or fuse. The outer portion of the projectile may be finished with the usual copper band, orin any other desired way,

It will be evident that it is very much easier to bore the cavity shown in Fig. 2 of full size from the'base inward than to bore a cavity such as shown in Fig. 3 witha contracted opening in the base throu h which the boring tools must operate. t will also be evident that it is very much easier and cheaper to form the conical end of the opening when the base is open,'as shown in Fig. 2, than to form it with a partially, closed base, as shown .in Fig. 3. .In

finish the inner end of the cavity can be readily inserted and operated in the form struction could not be inserted into the cavity shown in Fig. 3. My improved method of manufacturing projectiles therefore efiects a considerable saving in labor fact a special'tool or reamer adapted ton.

shown in Fig. 2 While a reamer of thisconis claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent'is: 3

1. The method of making a projectile which consists in forming a solidblank having a cylindrical body portion and an annular enlargement at its base, then boring through the base and forming the cavity in the body of the projectile, and then pressing the metal of the base radially inward to form an inwardly turned flange'to receive the base plug or fuse.

2. The method of making a projectile which consists in forming a blank having the usual cylindrical body and tapering point and having an annular enlargement at its base, then boring through the base to produce a cavity for the burstin charge, then heating and pressing inwar the enlargement at the base to reduce thediameter of the base to substantially that of the body and form an inwardly turned flange to receive the base plug or fuse. j

'3. The method of making a projectile which consists in forming a solid blank hav ing the usualvcylindrical body and tapering point and having an annular enlargement at its base, boring an opening through the base and body, to produce a cavity for the bursting charge, completing said cavity toa rounded or tapering point within the point of the projectile, then heating and pressing inward the enlargement at the base to contract the bore, and finally finishing the contracted portion of the bore to receive the base fuse or cavity.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signatur plug which closes the shell in presence of two Witnesses.

LEIGHTON N. D. MIXSELL.

Witnesses: NORA G. CASEY, FRANK I. GRIM. 

